IPL 2025 is going to start with a big bang. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will face each other in the opening match. This match will be played on 22 March 2025 at the historic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. This time not only cricket but also the weather can play a big role, as strong thunderstorms and rain have been predicted in Kolkata.
Rain can cause disruption
Heavy rain and strong winds are expected in Kolkata, due to which the outfield and pitch may be affected during the match. However, the groundsmen at Eden Gardens have made full arrangements so that the match can go on smoothly despite the rain. Large covers are already ready to cover the ground and the hopes of thousands of fans coming to the stadium are intact that the weather will not interrupt the game.
The opening ceremony will make a grand comeback
Kolkata is hosting the opening ceremony of IPL 2025 again after a decade. This will be the first time since 2015 that the opening ceremony will be held at Eden Gardens. The event is going to be very special with Bollywood stars, music, dance and fireworks. The ceremony will start 45 minutes before the match and many big artists will perform in it.
KKR vs RCB: An exciting rivalry
KKR and RCB have always been a tough competition. Out of the 7 matches played since 2021, KKR has won 6 times. However, in the last 4 encounters at Eden Gardens, both the teams have won 2-2 matches, making this match even more exciting.
Pitch and conditions
The pitch of Eden Gardens is considered favorable for the batsmen. In the last two seasons, there have been 200+ scores here 12 times, which shows that this ground is known for high-scoring matches.
- Average score: 190-210 runs
- Effect of dew: Bowlers may face difficulty in the second innings
- Effect of weather: The ball may get wet, which will cause problems for spinners
- Status of teams
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR will field a balanced team this time. Despite the return of Anrich Norkhia, Spencer Johnson is likely to get priority in the playing XI. At the same time, the role of Varun Chakraborty and Sunil Narine will become even more important due to the absence of Mitchell Starc.
Probable Playing XI:
- Sunil Narine
- Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper)
- Ajinkya Rahane (captain)
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Spencer Johnson
- Harshit Rana
- Varun Chakraborty
Strategy:
- Use spinners in the early overs to stop RCB’s batting.
- Give Andre Russell the role of finisher.
- Expect a stable start from Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
RCB has experienced fast bowlers this time, with Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the way. The team includes batsmen like Virat Kohli, Phil Salt and Devdutt Padikkal, who can score big.
Probable Playing XI:
- Phil Salt
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (captain)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper)
- Tim David
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Yash Dayal
Strategy:
- Give Virat Kohli a chance to play a long innings.
- Let Jitesh Sharma and Livingstone attack in the middle overs.
- Strategy to take early wickets from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
What do the stats say?
- Virat Kohli has a strike rate of 103 and 102.5 against Narine and Chakravarthy, which will make this match-up interesting.
- Ajinkya Rahane was the highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25.
- Eden Gardens has been the highest run-scoring ground in the last two IPL seasons.
Coaches’ Statements
- Varun Chakravarthy: “I performed well in the last tournament but IPL is a different challenge. I have to be fully prepared.”
- Andy Flower (RCB Coach): “I want this match to be like an ‘El Clasico’. This will be a great start to IPL 2025.”
Conclusion
IPL 2025 is going to start with a very exciting match. KKR and RCB teams will face each other at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Rain and weather may affect the match, but the audience can get to see a memorable match. Looking at the strengths and weaknesses of both the teams, it is difficult to say who will win. But one thing is certain – this night is going to be memorable for cricket lovers! source cricbuzz
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